Act Like A Man Box
I think this article is one of my favorite of the readings. I've read this for a previous class and what I like most about it is that it distributes the blame. Often in gender related classes my male colleges feel attacked as a gender in one way or another and I think this differing perspective is refreshing. Rather, instead of saying this is a "male issue", it becomes this is a "societal issue". The act like a man box isn't a box we're physically constricted in or even one that boys are directly told to obey, but instead is a box they are bullied into. From childhood to adulthood, it establishes the guidelines of how to be a successful man- not by a step by step basis but more on what not to do. Why is it that as a man it is expected to be in total control all the time? Control over emotions, finances, feelings, physical control? As the article mentions- why do we expect them to be less human? We want them to be workers, enforcers, controllers, bosses, managers, offices- but why? And why do we insist on being emotionally these exact clones in order to succeed in these areas? Moreover, it is not just male on male abuse, but it's also enforced through women. From both parties boys are shunned and ostracized if they venture too far from the guidelines. Even as babies, we've heard before that you don't want to show too much affection to a boy because we need to prepare him for the real world. Whatever that world is.
